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Margaret Aldape ParkLet’s Build a Park Together Margaret Aldape Park Sherrie Ewing’s favorite statement I would like to thank the commission for inviting me to be there. I am Jacob Simpson, most of us have met. I am a candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. As you know one of the requirements of becoming an eagle scout is to show leadership in the development of a project that benefits the community. This project is a little bit different than other eagle scout projects that I have seen or been a part of, this project involves the planning of a plan, it involves adult professionals from several fields instead of a number of people doing manual labor. I have learned a great deal with this project both in terms of leading adults, leading professionals whose time, experience and input are worth a great deal of money, and putting together the contributions of those professionals into a presentation or project that will help with the master plan for the Margaret Aldape Park. (very faded background picture of a wild area on the Boise river, most of slides need a background) 1 11/12/2014 In Honor of Margaret Aldape Donated by: Sherrie Aldape Ewing John Ewing Peggy Aldape Everest Rex Everest Tuck Ewing Elena Ewing The Margaret Aldape Park will be built and dedicated to the life of Margaret Aldape. The Aldape Ranch, purchased in 1916, has been in the Aldape family for 98 years. The north land that The park is going to be on, is known affectionately as “the island” to the Aldape family, because it is surrounded by water. It is where the cows where taken to have their calves due to the surreal peacefulness in the area. It is the ideal place for this park. 2 11/12/2014 Project Purpose To complete the design phase of the pond area of the park, especially the foliage, which will be integrated into the master plan for the Margaret Aldape Park. Building a park has many phases. My project falls within the conceptual phase of building a park together. This park has been in the mind and in the hearts of the Aldape and Ewing families for some time. Their generosity is what make the building of this park even possible. It is the desire of the Aldape family descendants to keep the area within the boundaries of this park, as close to the natural state as possible. There are now two ponds on this property. My project is to design and suggest the foliage surrounding one of the ponds as well as a general design of open areas, public areas, and walking areas around this pond. My challenge was to keep it natural, I could not bring in foreign plants. The plants should not attract unwanted wildlife, such as geese since, as you can imagine, there are already plenty out there. The foliage should not deter the native populations such as deer or turkeys, or any other naturally occurring wildlife commonly found in the flood plain of the Boise river. 3 11/12/2014 This Project consisted of several phases Phase one: Site Visit Phase two: Developing a committee of professionals Phase three: Visiting similar park developments Phase four: Developing professional opinions Phase five: Plan development and collaboration These five phases describe the process of putting these plans together. Some phases were more challenging than others. The most challenging phase for me were phases four and five. Phase one was an eye opening pleasure. The site is absolutely beautiful as you know from your own visits. At first the challenge was keeping it that way, keeping it wild and natural, while allowing for future visits by members of the public, just as with any park. After completing phase three, some of these goals began to change just a little as you will see. I know for a fact that they will continue to change. Follow me now through each of these phases. 4 11/12/2014 Phase One: Site Visit The first visit included Sherrie Ewing, Kent Goldthorpe, Lynette Simpson, and myself, Jacob Simpson This visit was July 2013 During our visit in July of 2013, it became apparent that this property had been very well taken care of, by the Aldape family, as well as mother nature. The focus of this visit was not necessarily just the pond, though it was at that visit that this focus was set. While there we received a very instructive tour of the property, and were able to more fully familiarize ourselves with what was on the property, and what it looked like from a close up perspective. (describe other things during the visit.) 5 11/12/2014 Phase two Developing a Committee of Professionals In developing a committee for this project, Sherrie Ewing, Commissioner Kent Goldthrope, and Meridian Parks and Recreation Director Steve Siddoway were consulted for suggestions. It was important that those professionals suggested were familiar with natural park settings, free flowing rivers, flood plain foliage and riparian habitat issues, conservation, and issues surrounding parks generally. It was important that this committee be a professional committee rather than amateurs. The input of professionals when applied to the actual park development will ensure that the park is developed correctly. The first time, rather than having to go back and fix mistakes. It is important to note that professionals do not always agree. This is a really good thing, because no one person had all the answers. For example, I found the best professional resource for plants to be Andy Ogden. Other members of the committee gave valuable input, but Andy Ogden deals with this every single day, And his ideas were different and more thoroughly thought through because of his experience than the ideas of others. 6 11/12/2014 The Committee Steve Siddoway Sherrie Ewing Elroy Huff Karl Gebhardt, P.E., P.H. Doug Russell Kent Goldthorpe Dave Koga Liz Paul Andy Ogden As you know, Steve Siddoway is the dierector of the city of meridians parks and recreation. Sherrie Ewing is one of the donors of this property, and has spent her entire life enjoying it. Elroy Huff is the Arborist for the city of Meridian department of Park and Reacreation. Karl Gebhardt is a licensed professional engineer, and hydrologist, specializing in the Boise river drainage, and has worked on several parks along the Boise river during his carreer. Doug Russell is a landscape architect for the Land Group. His input was invaluable in developing the map and foliage placement for this project. Kent Goldthorpe is a member of the meridian park and recreation commission. Dave Koga is the principal at the land group. Liz Paul is a director at Idaho Rivers United, and an expert at river restoration. Andy Ogden is a habitat biologist with the idaho department of fish and game, specializing in riparian restoration and development of natural environments. 7 11/12/2014 Parks and Rec Meeting Planned later park visits Located design and landscape professionals Discussed park objectives (Date of meeting) During this meeting, topics discussed were the possible timeline for park development, and open areas around the pond were designing. This meeting was where we discussed the professionals. This is where Doug Russell and Liz Paul were discussed. Attending this meeting were Sherrie Ewing, Karl Gebhardt, Steve Siddoway, Commissioner Kent Goldthorpe, Elroy Huff and myself. leading this meeting was a challenge, as it was the first time I have ever led a discussion group with people who know infinitely more than I do. It was during this meeting that names of other professionals were put on the table. I assigned Kent Goldthorpe to obtain two additional committee members. Which was where Andy Ogden, and Liz Paul were chosen. Kent was assigned to set appointments with these two professionals to get their opinions and input about appropriate plant life. 8 11/12/2014 Phase Three Visiting Similar park developments One comparable park was visited Marianne Williams Studied pond aspects of the comparable park During phase three, we planned a site visit to Mary Anne Williams park. Included in this visit were Sherrie Ewing, Karl Gebhardt, Elroy huff, Kent Goldthorpe, and myself. Since this visit Kent Goldthorpe has had an opportunity to meet with the Williams family, and discovered another couple with extremely deep roots and commitment to the Boise river, and the Treasure valley communities. 9 11/12/2014 Marianne Williams Park October 2013 Karl Gebhart, Sherrie Ewing, Kent Goldthorpe, Elroy Huff, Jacob Simpson Pros and cons of the park As Karl Gebhardt was consulted heavily in the design of Marianne Williams Park, we were able to analyze and study vegetation and riparian aspects of the park through his eyes. Through the duration of the visit we as a group saw many things that we wanted to implement in our plan, including the more people friendly theme of the park. In this sense our beginning goals began to change as we saw how beautifully the wildlife fit into granting more access and paths. 10 11/12/2014 Phase four Developing Professional Opinions Andy Ogden (Idaho department of fish and game riparian specialist) Karl Gebhart The land group Idaho Rivers United Dave Koga Doug Russell Ewing Family As part of phase 4 we were seeking opinions and setting our vision, on what we wanted in the park. It then came time to clarify exactly what we had seen, and what of what we had seen would actually be reasonable for planting inside the flood plain. In doing this we met with and obtained opinions from some of the people, who were the most knowledgeable on this subject in the whole northwest. 11 11/12/2014 Idaho Fish and Game Met with Andy Ogden (riparian specialist) Received information on plants, and plant recommendations Led to the acquiring of a general planting plan of the park The information he shared was invaluable in the creation of this plan One of the most valuable visits in this stage, and in the project as a whole came at the Nampa Idaho Fish and Game office. While we were there we met with Riparian Specialist Andy Ogden. While with him, he shared a treasure trove of information with us. He was able to name plants that we had pictures of, list specifics for each plant that we wanted, described pros and cons of reasonable plant selections, and completely removed plant choices for us based on planting information and the purposes of those plants. 12 11/12/2014 Phase five Plan Development and Collaboration In plan development and collaboration, extensive time was spent working with Doug Russell and the Land Group. The plan was created, revised by the group, revised some more, and then finally put into the Land Groups software. What resulted was a map of the pond area, with placement of appropriate foliage. As this plan developed, potential sites for a pavilion, viewing platform, pathways, a beach area, and other access points for activities such as fishing were identified. 13 11/12/2014 Putting it all together After receiving recommendations from Andy Ogden and Karl Gebhardt on plant types, a rough plan was made That plan was then revised by the Committee We then met with the Land Group to work on the final Plan The plan was completed on July 30th 2014 Using the recommendations given by Andy Ogden, Karl Gebhardt, and the other professionals and specialists, a rough draft of the plan was put into action. After a constructive revision by the Committee, and a thorough analysis at the land Group, the plan was then ready to be redrawn and given to the Land Group to be put into their software. It was on July 30th of 2014 that the final map was completely finished. 14 11/12/2014 Finished Plan This is the map of the pond, with sites inserted for plants, an observation deck, and other access points. 15 11/12/2014 Finished Plan The Plan consists of: Willows Currants Cattails (already planted) An Observation Deck Access Points This plan consists of these main aspects and plants: The willows and Currant bushes, to be planted around the perimeter of the pond, the Cattails, which are already there, the access points, and an observation deck. 16 11/12/2014 Willows Helps Attract Wildlife People Control The willow plants were recommended by both Karl, and Andy for several invaluable qualities. The willows are special in the fact that the different varieties don’t have an adverse affect on the environment, or the animals that will be attracted to them. The willows will help to grow and attract the native wildlife, and will provide a quality habitat for them in respects to the pond. By people control we mean preventing people from walking where we don’t want them, in order to preserve the habitat and wildlife of the park. Most of these pictures were taken at Mary Ann Williams park 17 11/12/2014 Currant Bushes Attracts wildlife Good wildlife food Keeps weeds down The currant bushes share some of these same qualities. They were recommended for the fact that they provide great food for wildlife, and that they will similarly attract that wildlife. Also these plants will prevent and control many of the naturally invasive species of weeds. 18 11/12/2014 People Access Observation deck Access points As we visited Mary Anne Williams park, one of the main things we liked was the access it gave people to the pond. We decided to try to recreate that in this park, through the access points around the pond, and also the observation deck at the front of the pond, which will give a nice view of the pond area of this new park. 19 11/12/2014 Any questions? 11/12/2014 20